Tag Archives: AR

Microsoft demonstrates virtual collaboration with VR/AR unifier Windows Holographic

June 5, 2016Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, HoloLens, Microsoft, Microsoft HoloLens, mixed reality, tech demo, virtual reality, VR, Windows HolographicScott Meisner

Microsoft’s making a point with its latest glimpse into the future. Instead of choosing a side in the race to develop virtual and augmented reality technologies, the Windows maker is embracing a mixed reality, and it’s a vision that aims to break down the barriers between our physical world and the endless potential of a virtual space. Powering the company’s mixed reality is Windows Holographic, a platform embedded inside Windows 10 that enables end-users to transform the physical world around them with interactive holograms. In the video demonstration above, Microsoft promotes a collaborative experience where multiple users can virtually meet up, plan, and execute ideas in real time.

Collaboration is the key here. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the gamer featured in this clip is not wearing Microsoft’s HoloLens hardware. In fact, he’s sporting a VR headset designed by HTC called Vive. It’s one of the more popular VR devices out today, a direct competitor of Oculus’s Rift. So what is it doing here, featured in Microsoft’s mixed reality demonstration? Well, MSFT aims to bridge the gap (see a trend here?) between competing VR and AR offerings by opening up the Windows Holographic platform to partners including HTC, ASUS, Intel, Dell, HP, Lenovo and other pioneers in the PC market. Whether or not Microsoft succeeds in becoming the definitive holographic interface is a question for another day, but you must commend its forward-thinking initiative for inclusivity.

The first step in creating this future was taken in March when Microsoft began shipping out the first HoloLens units to developers. The company says that there are already hundreds of Windows Holographic-infused apps in the Windows Store today as developers continue to mine the headset and its underlying, universal platform for its potential across a multitude of industries including entertainment and education.

With the Rift and Vive out in the wild, and Sony’s PS4-powered PSVR device just around the corner, VR is about to blow up and it sure will be interesting to watch Microsoft respond with a decidedly different approach to our VR AR MR future.

[Via Microsoft] Continue reading Microsoft demonstrates virtual collaboration with VR/AR unifier Windows Holographic →

E3 2015: Microsoft kicks Xbox One into high gear with exciting games lineup and backwards compatibility

June 15, 2015News, TechnologyAR, augmented reality, backward compatability, E3, E3 2015, game controller, Halo, Halo 5: Guardians, HoloLens, ID@Xbox, Microsoft, Microsoft HoloLens, Oculus, Oculus Rift, SKU, user experience, Valve, ValveVR, video game trailer, Video games, virtual reality, VR, Xbox, Xbox dashboard, Xbox OneScott Meisner

Microsoft kicked off E3 2015 with a media briefing that mostly included first-looks at anticipated game sequels and new IPs, and also a dash of exciting software and hardware announcements. It’s all for you after the break. Continue reading E3 2015: Microsoft kicks Xbox One into high gear with exciting games lineup and backwards compatibility →

Mii sprouts to life on man’s arm…but how?

May 8, 2011Image cache, Technology3DS, AR, AR Cards, augmented reality, bizarre, Nintendo 3DS, tattooScott Meisner

Wow neat is this? A man known only by his Internet handle “cranberryzero” has integrated an augmented reality experience into his arm! If you’ve purchased Nintendo latest handheld the 3DS, you’d know that the system comes bundled with a pack of AR Cards. When you point the 3DS’ outer cameras at the cards an augmented reality game or a bunch of classic Nintendo characters come to life. Here, cranberryzero apparently walked into a tattoo parlor and came out with one of the AR Cards imprinted on his wrist. Now when he points his 3DS at his arm his personalized Mii grows out of it. A little bizarre, but still super cool right? Head over to the source link to watch a video of the magic in action.

[Via IHeartChaos]

Augmented reality-based instant translation? There’s an app for that.

December 20, 2010Technology, Videoapp, App Store, AR, augmented reality, dictionary, instant conversion, translate, translation, Word LensScott Meisner

This has to be the coolest app made for the iPhone yet. Word Lens uses augmented reality to instantly translate printed words from one language to another. It’s simple: Hold up your phone’s camera to a sign containing foreign words and the app will convert it to your native tongue on-the-fly. This terse explanation doesn’t do the app justice; you’ve gotta watch the demonstration above to get the full effect.

An app so powerful has to have limits, right? Word Lens only supports Spanish-to-English and English-to-Spanish translation for now and it cannot read very stylized fonts, handwriting, or cursive. The demonstration shows the app working quite flawlessly; realistically there will be times when conversions are not 100% accurate so the developer (Quest Visual) allows users to manually type in words to find translations. But here’s a plus: the app does not rely on network or Internet connectivity to make translations happen.

Word Lens is available now as a free download in the App Store; however you must pay $4.99 for an in-app purchase language pack to get things started. It’s compatible with iPhone 4, 3GS, and the latest gen iPod touch.

AR-Tee brings augmented reality magic to your chest

December 13, 2010Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, t-shirtScott Meisner

The concept is simple, really. You’ve seen it before. With the AR-Tee, designed by Sebastian Merchel, you can watch content inside that TV graphic thanks to the trick of augmented reality. Printed inside the TV graphic is a custom-made QR code that gets read by your webcam. When you hold up the t-shirt to your webcam you’ll see some old cartoons play on your computer screen. It may not blow your mind, but it should make you the life of a party. Look after the break to watch the magic happen. Click here to find the AR-Tee in your size.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading AR-Tee brings augmented reality magic to your chest →

The world’s heath & wealth over 200 years get spectacularly visualized

November 30, 2010Education, Videoanimation, AR, augmented reality, augmented reality animation, BBC, Hans Rosling, health, historical data, incomeScott Meisner

Using highly effective visuals in augmented reality animation, BBC’s Hans Rosling tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers, in just four minutes. More specifically, he plots life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, and the visually splendid data reveals interesting rises and drops in correspondence to major historical events such as world wars. Go on mash play and educate yourself.

[Via Gawker]

LuminAR robot combines projector & camera for gesture-based interactivity, in a lamp

June 12, 2010Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, camera, gesture, interactivity, LuminAR, MIT, Pico projector, robot, student projectScott Meisner

LuminAR, created by Natan Linder and Pattie Maes at MIT, combines a Pico-projector and camera inside a lamp-shaped robotic device to augment reality by beaming computational images onto a surface. While the projector is there to display information and content from the Internet, the camera enables user-defined gestures. Theoretically the LuminAR can be “screwed into standard light fixtures everywhere” meaning you might find such technology in a household lamp sometime in the (likely distant) future. Watch Linder demo it in the video above. Very Tony Stark/JARVIS-like, am I right?

[Via Engadget; YouTube]

Music video: Diane Birch – “Valentino” (Super cool augmented reality!)

March 23, 2010Music, Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, behind the scenes, Diane Birch, music video, SingleScott Meisner

Watch this music video for Diane Birch’s catchy tune “Valenino,” a single off her debut album Bible Belt. It features some old-school augmented reality tricks. It all looks easy at first glance, but there is much choreography that had to be memorized and performed to perfection in order to pull everything off. Just look after the break for a behind-the-scenes video that reveals all the magic and see what I mean.

[Via Gizmodo]

Continue reading Music video: Diane Birch — “Valentino” (Super cool augmented reality!) →

If the future of video gaming is augmented reality, count me in!

February 16, 2010Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, fictional, Video gamesScott Meisner

Imagine a future where video games transition from the TV and PC to your physical surrounds via a virtual reality headset with goggles. Pretty wild. (And FYI–this is not a concept video for true implementation; it’s actually from a fictional Israeli TV show. Nonetheless, who knows what the future holds.)

[Via NowhereElse; Gizmodo]

Our future, augmented reality’d

February 10, 2010Design, Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, concept, consumerismScott Meisner

Designer Keiichi Matsudafor, who is about to receive his Masters in Architecture, shares his vision of a future that includes virtual overlays that may one day help us with everyday tasks.

The latter half of the 20th century saw the built environment merged with media space, and architecture taking on new roles related to branding, image and consumerism. Augmented reality may recontextualise the functions of consumerism and architecture, and change in the way in which we operate within it.

Scary, is it not?

[Via Likecool; Vimeo]

Augment your reality: T-shirt edition

January 26, 2010Fashion, Technology, VideoAR, augmented reality, magazine, T-Post, t-shirtScott Meisner

T-Post, a monthly magazine that packs a t-shirt with every issue, celebrates their 51st issue with an interactive tee that plays the classic game of Rock-Paper-Scissors with you. How does it work? With the aid of augmented reality tech, of course. All you have to do is put on the shirt, sit in front of a webcam, run T-Post’s webapp, and watch as a spooky hand flies out of the screen waiting to repeatedly play Rock-Paper-Scissors with you. See it in action for yourself in the video above.

[Via Core 77; Gizmodo]

Kid Cudi wants you to augment your reality

December 28, 2009Music, Technology, Videoactivity, AR, augmented reality, Kid CudiScott Meisner

Bored? Got nothing else better to do? Have (a little) fun with this quick activity that involves your webcam and a piece of paper with a QR code on it. First click here to view and print the special marker. Then click here and scroll down to find a box that prompts you to allow access to your webcam. Then hold up the printed market to the camera and let the fun begin! Need help setting up? Watch the video above as a guide to getting started.

[Via DatNewCudi]